Yes: Close to the Edge...35 Years Later

[P. Aaron]

Was listening to a radio show Sunday night and they were interviewing Yes members about Close to The Edge and the song's origins.

Not knowing any better, I figured guys like Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe would score these elaborate arrangements. Nope.

The members all said that they just added parts to songs until they thought the songs sounded complete!

It's still a great record, and modern day radio just doesn't allow for 'album side' songs.

I miss those Long Player days of FM radio.

[jemaholic]

I was a huge Yes fan in the 70's and saw them many times.
One concert story for ya:

1975- Colt Park in Connecticut show with general admission. It was outside and we got right up by the stage - after some "attitude-adjustments" we started fooling around with frisbee's and beach balls and my friend threw a frisbee at the stage and happened to hit Steve Howe right in the go-nads as he was setting up his controls before the show. Man, he doubled over in pain!

It was truly one of the funniest moments I've ever witnessed. Howe was pissed off too. We were crying-laughing so hard.......

-jemaholic

[jim777]

On the record sleeve it always noted the 4 different parts of the song having different authors. I think that when they say they "added parts" they meant they added complete sections of music to the whole, not like adding bass parts or guitar fills here and there. They definitely knew what they were doing and weren't just adding stuff by chance.
CTTE is still one of my all time favorite albums, a definite top 3. It's a disk every prog fan should have memorized by now
I think I've seen Yes about 30 times, but I lost track due to the aforementioned attitude adjustments Still my favorite band, no question.